EU Presidency Statement - Explanation of Vote: Syrian Golan

EU Explanation of vote on the Syrian Golan by the United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations, on behalf of the European Union, GA Plenary 60th Session, New York

The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Country Croatia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, EFTA country Liechtenstein, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine align themselves with this statement.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. I would like to explain the vote by the countries of the European Union on the resolution on the Syrian Golan.

The EU remains concerned about the situation in the Middle East. It reiterates to all parties the importance of maintaining forward momentum towards full implementation of the Roadmap. There can be no military solution to the Middle East conflict. A just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the situation in the Middle East, including on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks, must be based on Security Council Resolution 242, which emphasises the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force and the need to work for a just and lasting peace in which every state in the region can live in security, and on subsequent resolutions 338, 1397 and 1515. It must be based on the Madrid terms of reference, in particular the principle of land for peace, as well as on the implementation of the Road Map and all existing agreements between the parties. We will continue to work relentlessly with the regional parties as part of the Middle East Quartet towards that goal.

The EU wishes to reiterate that a final peace settlement will not be complete without taking account of the Israel-Syria and Israel-Lebanon aspects. Negotiations should resume as soon as possible with the aim of reaching an agreement.

It should be recalled that earlier this month, the EU voted in favour of the resolution on the Syrian Golan in the Fourth Committee, which called upon Israel to desist from changing the demographic composition of the occupied Syrian Golan and in particular to desist from the establishment of settlements. We believe that the resolution on the Syrian Golan under today's agenda item contains references which could undermine the process of bilateral negotiations. For that reason, as in previous years, the EU has abstained on this resolution.

Finally, in the spirit of rationalising the work of the General Assembly Agenda, the EU would prefer to have only one resolution dealing with this issue before this body.


* Croatia continues to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

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